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Week 16 Game Recap: New York Giants 38, Buffalo Bills 21
What you need to know
| New York Giants |
Gusty winds and snowy rain grounded the Giants air attack and forced them to rely on their ground game. Brandon Jacobs, rookie Ahmad Bradshaw, and the Giants offensive line responded by grinding out 291 yards and three touchdowns. The defense added two scores as New York won its league best seventh consecutive road game and secured a berth in the playoffs.
Brandon Jacobs rushed for a career high 145 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns. Rookie Ahmad Bradshaw added 151 yards on 17 carries including an 88 yard sprint for a touchdown in the fourth quarter with the Giants clinging to a 24--21 lead. Jacobs and Bradshaw became the first New York Giant running backs to each gain more than 100 yards in a game.
Eli Manning was unable to generate much of a passing attack as he completed seven of 15 for 111 yards and zero touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles. Amani Toomer made key third down catches and led all receivers with five balls for 99 yards. Plaxico Burress caught his only pass in the third quarter.
The Giants defense took control of this game after falling behind 14--0 early. Fourth quarter interceptions by former South Florida standout LB Kawika Mitchell and CB Corey Webster were both returned for touchdowns to help nail down the victory.
| Buffalo Bills |
The big story of the game for Buffalo was the return of Kevin Everett. The former TE broke his neck in the season opener against Denver and the initial prognosis was poor. It was feared that if he lived he would be confined to a wheel chair for the rest of his life. An aggressive medical team performed a modern miracle, however, and before the game Everett walked back into Ralph Wilson Stadium, visited with his teammates, and watched the game from a suite near midfield.
Despite high winds and a combination of rain and snow the inspired Bills started out fast and scored touchdowns on their first two possessions for an early 14--0 lead. Their 22nd ranked run defense eventually wore down, however, and surrendered 291 yards and three touchdowns. With Buffalo trailing in the fourth quarter and forced to throw more frequently the Giants returned two interceptions for defensive touchdowns.
Marshawn Lynch rushed for 70 yards on 18 carries and topped the 1,000 yard mark. He also caught two passes for 42 yards. Fred Jackson added 37 yards on six carries. LT Jason Peters, who was named a first time Pro Bowl starter this week, sustained a leg injury and was replaced by Kirk Chambers. Peters walked off the field under his own power just before halftime but did not return.
Lee Evans led all Buffalo receivers with three balls for 43 yards and one touchdown. TE Michael Gaines caught two passes for 23 yards and one score. Trent Edwards saw his record as a starter drop to 5--3, as he completed nine of 26 for 161 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and faced a ferocious pass rush all day. He was sacked three times and was often hit just as he released the ball.
Special Teams carried the Bills most of this season but turned in a terrible game against New York. With Buffalo leading 14--0 punter Brian Moorman botched a snap and the Giants took over at the Bills 23 which led to Brandon Jacobs first touchdown. Later in the same quarter S Donte Whitner tried to block a punt but was flagged for roughing the kicker. New York retained possession and on the very next play Jacobs galloped 43 yards for his second touchdown tying the score. The Giants played inspired football after that and the Bills had little in their arsenal to stop them.
What you ought to know
| QB Eli Manning, Pass: 7 - 15 - 111 - 0 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 3 - 0 - 0 |
Manning struggled in the wintry weather fumbling five times and throwing two interceptions. He just never seemed comfortable in the pocket and was unable to get any rhythm going. Fortunately, the ground game carried him.
| RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 24 - 145 - 2, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets) |
A career day for Jacobs as he gained 145 yards on 24 carries for two touchdowns as he beat up the undersized Buffalo front seven. Jacobs limped off the field early in the third quarter after being tackled by Kyle Williams. He returned for one more series but did not see the field in the fourth quarter.
| RB Reuben Droughns, Rush: 3 - -5 - 0 |
Droughns was stopped for a loss on a fourth a goal and ended with three carries for negative five yards. After Jacobs left in the fourth quarter Droughns saw more playing time.
| WR Amani Toomer, Rec: 5 - 99 - 0 (7 targets) |
The Giants eventually got their ground game going, but Toomer made some great plays early in this contest when the Bills appeared to be on the verge of running away with the game. He converted key third downs and displayed emotion after every catch. His 99 receiving yards was by far the best for either team.
| WR Plaxico Burress, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (8 targets) |
Burress managed to catch one pass for six yards as Manning had trouble handling the ball in tough weather conditions.
| WR Steve Smith (1 targets) |
The USC rookie got behind Terrance McGee late in the second quarter but dropped a pass at the Bills' 8 yard line. Unfortunately it was one of the few passes Manning threw accurately all game.
| WR Sinorice Moss |
Moss was inactive for this game with a sore back.
| TE Kevin Boss |
Boss did not see any action in the limited Giants' passing attack.
| TE Jeremy Shockey |
Shockey was placed on IR this week with a broken leg.
| PK Lawrence Tynes 1 - 1 FG, 5 - 5 XP, 8 points |
Tynes made all five PATs and was good on a 42 field goal.
| NYG Rush Defense |
The Bills ran for 117 yards as a team as rookie Marshawn Lynch gained 70 and scored one touchdown. When the Bills fell behind they got away from the run and tried to pass their way back into contention.
| NYG Pass Defense |
The Giants added three sacks to their league leading 49. Starting safeties James Butler and Gibril Wilson were both on the injury report but played anyway. Wilson led the team in tackles, while Kawika Mitchell and Corey Bradford returned interceptions for touchdowns.
| QB Trent Edwards, Pass: 9 - 26 - 161 - 2 TD / 3 INT, Rush: 2 - 7 - 0 |
For the second week in a row Californian Edwards faced some horrendous weather conditions. He played well early on but the Giants kept pressuring him throughout the game. Losing all Pro LT Jason Peters to a leg injury exacerbated the situation. Edwards' receivers were guilty of not hanging onto the ball but the gusty winds were a factor. The third round draft pick from Stanford now has a 5 and 3 record and should be on your dynasty radar.
| RB Marshawn Lynch, Rush: 18 - 70 - 1, Rec: 2 - 42 - 0 (3 targets) |
Lynch averaged almost 4 yards per carry and added 43 yards on the three receptions. Once the Bills fell behind, however, the game plan moved toward more pass attempts although he kept getting the ball late in the fourth quarter.
Despite missing three games with an ankle injury, Lynch became the first Buffalo rookie to gain 1,000 since Greg Bell in 1984.
| RB Fred Jackson, Rush: 6 - 37 - 0 (2 targets) |
Jackson got into the game to give a Lynch a rest. He is a fast runner who can make quick cuts, although the field conditions were brutal. He still finished with 37 yards on six carries.
| RB Dwayne Wright, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0 |
The other Buffalo rookie running back came into the game with the Bills down 38 to 21 and took a handoff for the last play of the game.
| WR Lee Evans, Rec: 3 - 43 - 1 (4 targets) |
Evans scored the Bills second touchdown on a four yard pass in the first quarter, but otherwise was not a major factor in the game. He led all Buffalo receivers with three balls for 43 yards, but he was only targeted once in the first quarter and three times in the fourth.
| WR Josh Reed, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (7 targets) |
The so-called short yardage specialist in this offense had a tough day, managing to catch only one pass for 11 yards.
| WR Roscoe Parrish, Rec: 1 - 42 - 0 (4 targets) |
Parrish caught one pass in the first quarter that turned out to be the catch of the game. While sprinting full speed down the field he dove, caught Edwards' pass in midair, and was downed at the Giants' four yard line. The play set up Buffalo's second touchdown.
| TE Michael Gaines, Rec: 2 - 23 - 1 (4 targets) |
The Bills like to have Edwards target tight ends, and Gaines scored the first touchdown of the game on a three yard pass. Robert Royal was on the same side of the end zone and it seemed that Edwards had his choice of targets on that play.
| TE Robert Royal (1 targets) |
Royal was not targeted as often as Gaines, but the Bills go back and forth between these two from game to game.
| PK Rian Lindell 0 - 0 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points |
Lindell did not attempt a field goal and made all three extra points.
| BUF Rush Defense |
The Bills were ranked 22nd against the run but against the Giants they allowed 291 yards on the ground. Brandon Jacobs and rookie Ahmad Bradshaw became the first running backs in Giants' history to each rush for over 100 yards in a game. Jacobs also set a career high single game mark of 145 yards.
| BUF Pass Defense |
The Bills were ranked 28th against the pass but Manning was not a factor. He only attempted 15 passes, two of which were intercepted. Factor in his five fumbles and the passing attack was basically grounded because of bad weather.
